The poetry and other makings of Anne E. Cooper aka aniseed

Welcome

Ŷto Seeds and Fuses

– the poetry and other makings of Anne E Cooper

Hey, thanks for dropping by. I’m not big on labels but guess you could say I’m a an artist and activist, workshop facilitator, dreamer and seeker. I make stuff. Life and art merged with my position as writer-in-residence at the Cressingham Gardens estate and with other residents on the estate we created the book 306: Living Under the Shadow of Regeneration.

My poetry ranges from the classic themes of love and war to those small, often unsaid, interchanges the basis of my collection Touched.Documentary poetry is my present form of choice, my poem essay 21st Century Guernica was described by the late Tony Benn as, “Powerful and deeply moving.”

With photography I capture light and colour, line, texture and the atmosphere of place, with an emphasis on the lost, decayed and abandoned. I have exhibited at the Portico Gallery, the Urban Art Show, and had a solo show with an artist talk at the Salome Gallery, The Poetics of the Everyday.

I have worked for nearly 20 years on creative projects in the community as a facilitator, tutor and project leader. In recent years much of my work has been in mental health and homelessness services including at the V&A, The South London and Maudsley Hospital Trust and The Recovery College.

In addition I have curated events with spoken word, live literature, dj’s, vj’s and musicians, honoured to have been joined by many special guests including; Paddy Hill, Brian Paddick, Karen McCarthy Woolf, John Cooper Clarke and Malika Booker.

I ardently believe another world is possible.

Diary

February

Bringing poetic energy to the 15th RECLAIM LOVE. I will be joining drummers, singers, rappers, beat boxers and dj’s, a host of loving souls. RECLAIM LOVE is an awesome, annual free pavement street party to celebrate love , to share love and to have a whole lot of fun doing it.

Meet at 2pm at Eros, Piccadilly Circus, around the fountain, to arrive by 3.15pm to take part in the Universal Peace Meditation as we beam love, light, joy and peace all across the Earth. The aim is to we can make this a phenomenal, unforgettable, love- fuelled day in which we light up London with LOVE.

January

Suddenly springing back to live, I blame the blood moon, after a time moving slowly thru in the dark night and so to action

January 22nd

Joining Poets on the Picket Line bringing verse and solidarity at the Ministry of Justice where receptionists, security guards and cleaners at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), represented by United Voices of the World (UVW) and support staff at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), represented by Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, will walk out together on strike demanding the London Living Wage of £10.55 per hour, plus parity of sick pay and annual leave allowance with civil servants.

This is the first co-ordinated strike between a TUC and a non-TUC union and the first coordinated strike between outsourced workers in government departments.

Checkin’ in with Poetic Justice, which means going north of the river but then how bad can that be in the days of a night tube

Kicking off 2019 returning to The Others in Stoke Newington for a night full of the powerful, thought provoking and expansive spoken word, hip hop and live music performed by some very talented wordsmiths.

Material expressed through the night is usually a mixture of activism, spirituality, awareness raising, philosophy, conspiracy “theories”, positive and profound, self/society development and all that stuff.

Poetic Justice events are a drop off point for donations of unwanted clothes and food parcels that will find their way to the homeless via Streets Kitchen.

December

Well, I read a lot, not all of it gloomy, wrote a bit, what you might call satire, as it occurred to me this is a challenged genre with the word “unicorn” entering political discourse, courtesy of the director of the Open Europe think tank. Aaaand I substituted armageddon movies for my usual fare of dystopian sci fi, the latter not being comforting enough it such uncertain times. What else? There was some midwinter cheer, not the least the news that our estate Cressingham Gardens has won the right to manage the estate. This the result of two and a half tireless years of work by the Cressingham Co-op. This wont stop the regen but can stop the managed decline. We celebrated. We’re good at that.

November

3rd – 10th November

Belatedly autumn makes its appearance and I have a late break to look forward to I will be on a writing retreat Opening Doors to Invisible Worlds at the beautiful Cortijo Romero in Andalucia. More than writing the package includes yoga or tai chi to start the day, Spanish lessons, mountain walks and access to a pool which overlooks mountains and valleys. The venue is mostly off the grid, a challenge and a blessing…

Sunday 11th November

Or shortly after will see the release of Requiem: A Reply to The Soldier by Rupert Brooke, a poem presented in a short film and dedicated to Veterans for Peace. Brooke wrote his idealist poem and somewhat imperialist work The Soldier before he was deployed to fight in the First World War. It is 100 years since the end of that bitter conflict which took so many lives on all sides. Dubbed the war to end all wars, sadly this has not been the case. The British Army has been deployed to or engaged in 48 conflicts since 1918.

Tuesday 20th November

Poetry from Myself And Brian “Beady Man” Wilson of transformation hope and defiance at the Reel News film show at the Effra Social, Brixton 8.00-11pm

Films

Save Appledore Shipyard North Devon – campaign to save the only merchant shipyard in the country from closure with the loss of 200 jobs – when the highly skilled workforce could be building the infrastructure for renewables.

Our Power! Just Transition in Richmond – A “movement of movements” in a California city dominated by oil giant Chevron a just transition framework which demands a proper living wage for all, rent controls and curbing police violence.

Cooperation Jackson – Building a social and solidarity economy in Mississippi: moving to a zero waste, zero carbon economy through a plan based on people’s assemblies to create a “solidarity economy” of workers cooperatives.

September 2018

Saturday September 1st

2pm until 3pm Tent City at Fordham Park, Deptford

Speaking on a panel on housing which will cover gentrification and social cleansing, managed decline and the thorny issue of ballots. Sadiq Khan famously declared ballots for regen estates were too complex. Those of us that live on regen estates fnd it quite simple. Our lives, our homes, our right to decide. What do you think? Lets us know. Taking part myself and

Tuesday September 11th

I and other Ann(e)s will be reading poetry at 6.30-8.30pm Barking Library, Barking, IG11 7NB. Ok, that’s a long drag for us south Londoners but it will be worth it to attend ReadFest 2018, this event is part of a week long festival. A Bunch of Poets called Ann(e) is hosted by Pen to Print, an awesome resource offering free mentoring in Barking and Dagenham to get your book published. So get lost on the tube and rock up to see guest Poets– Anne Ryland and myself, supported by – Ann Dineen, Anne MacAuley, Anne Welsh and Agnieszka Dryjas

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September

Its Open House weekend, a chance to view exceptional architecture across the city, and Cressingham Gardens, which has a deserved place in that pantheon, will be open for business. Had Lambeth Council had its way nothing would be left of our beautiful estate by now but rubble. The first demolition date was 2017 but we are still here and still fighting to stay here.

There will be a chance to buy 306: Living Under the Shadow of Regeneration, the book co-authored by myself and other residents. The Cressingham book, as people now refer to it, is now on three continents; in the hands of academics, artists and activists in America, Austria and Australia.

“306 is a vital, lyrical, funny and anguished document of a London community under threat of destruction. The voices here are allowed space to reminisce about life in Cressingham Gardens fondly but unsentimentally.”

Toby Litt, Author and Senior Lecturer, Department of English and Humanities, Birkbeck

There will be a chance to watch readings from the book shot by the talented Rainbow Collective in the Rotunda. For the history of how Cressingham Voices, led to the birth of the book see https://cressinghamvoices.wordpress.com/

The Bylines festival, in its second year is organised with The Frontline Club and takes place in Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, TN22 3HW It’s headlined by Pussy Riot and features other guests such as The Slits (!!!) Salena Godden and Alexei Sayle so that’s my summer sorted!

July 2018

Saturday 7th July

I will be taking part in the walk and the performance after please join us! The aim of the Matchgirls 130th Anniversary Memorial Walk is to celebrate the victory of the Matchgirls over Bryant and May in 1888, commonly known as the Matchgirls Strike, which helped lay the foundations of modern day Trade Unionism.

THE WALK

The 2.5 mile walk will take us from Mile End to Bouverie Street to retrace, as best as possible, the steps taken by the Matchgirls the day after they walked out on strike. So, don those Victorian outfits (see below for details) and join us for a commemoration of this landmark event. There will be an after-walk event in the Fleet Street area and more detail will be posted about this as the event takes shape.

On 5th July 1888, 1400 girls and women walked out of the Bryant and May match factory in Bow, London and the next day some 200 of them marched from Mile End to Bouverie Street, Annie Besant’s office, to ask for her support. A Strike Committee was formed and rallied support from the Press, some MPs, the London Trades Council and Toynbee Hall. The London Trades Council, along the Strike Committee of eight Matchgirls, met with the Bryant & May Directors to put their case. By 17th July, the demands were met and terms agreed in principle so the Strike Committee put the proposals to the rest of the girls and they enthusiastically approved and returned to work.

Anonymous photographer 1888

The action led to a change in legislation in 1908 the House of Commons passed an Act prohibiting the use of white phosphorus in matches. It led to an increased militancy across the working class, as Lyn Brown notes, ” The received wisdom is that the heroic London dockers of 1889 led the way towards social justice, greater equality and spurred the foundation of the Labour movement. In fact it was London’s working class women, a year earlier, who were the vital spark that lit the blaze that showed the way to trade unionism. The men learned how it was done from their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and neighbours.”

Sunday 8th July

I will be taking part in a housing, music and poetry event; presenting the poetry of precarity and looking at some home truths, in a positive sense, of working class life. Its a fundraiser for the Grenfell peoples inquiry organised by The Rainbow Collective & Radical Housing Network 1.30- 10.00pm DIY Space for London 96-108 Ormside Street, SE15 1TF London

exposing the causes of the housing crisis + debunking the myths about immigration and homelessness + learning from our victories

An afternoon of films, discussion, spoken word and music. Bringing together artists and activists from variety of campaigns. Building a community of resistance to overcoming division to fight displacement, dispossession and privatization.

This event is a fundraiser for the People’s Inquiry project at Grenfell which is the development of a public archive of accounts and testimonies of the state crimes. It exists to support the processes of justice, not to undermine them and should have the support of reputable charities.

There will also be youth element which will focus on providing a platform for young voices and training them to develop their YouTube channel and their own voice. This project is being run by Dan Renwick the Director of Failed By The State.

And then have a couple deadlines looming for the end of the month so may be taking a bit of time out in poetical editing retreat; it’s a dynamic process, shifting between sofa – rewriting or restructuring, desk – making changes on the pc, bed – reading and making changes on the page, lots messy drafts, lots of coffee, rinse, repeat. But given the present hot climes am likely to take some of this outdoors. Note to self: Don’t forget to breathe, eat and do yoga! Take a break; Casualty, Poldark, The Hand Maids Tale… GO TO THE PARK!

June 2018

Friday 9th June

Our workshop as part of the Solus and the City project was an immense success and now thrilled to have an opportunity to read poetry of women in the struggle at the all day event as part of this innovative project. It will include songs, poetry and football chants… It takes place at Green Dale Playing Fields, London, SE22 8BB from noon. It’s a bit tricky to find. The easiest way to access the shed is via East Dulwich Sainsbury’s – 80 Dog Kennel Hill, London SE22 8BB Think of it as an adventure.

Workshop for women, at Cressingham Gardens Rotunda, 20th May 2018. Part of the Solus and the City project

The Solus and the City project is designed by Degenerate Space exploring how women are expected to provide solidity, structure and sanctuary whilst they paradoxically disproportionately experience unstable positions in housing, work and society. Part of the project consists of the construction of a small Solitude Shed – a structure based on rural mountain bothies – built on an urban site in London.

Building the Solitude Shed

Accompanying the structure will be a collection of material written from female perspectives exploring themes of solitude, sanctuary, stability and individuality. Degenerate Space write “we invite the public to get together and explore the project and its themes through discussion, writing and traditional women’s work songs. Together, we will celebrate the women of the city’s past, present and future.”

Inside the Solitude Shed

The installation/exhibition will be up throughout the whole of June and is part of The London Festival of Architecture, details here. The LFA is an event which celebrates London as a global hub of architectural experimentation, practice and debate. The festival runs from 1-30 June 2018 with a lively and diverse programme of public events across London this year exploring the them of exploring the theme identity. Full programme https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/

In addition I will preview a selection of photographs entitled Intervals of Refuge, that explores visually space as refuge and sanctuary in the urban environment. To undertake this work I investigated the etymology of the archaic term querencia, derived from the Spanish querer – to wish, want, love, desire, cherish, hence as a verbal noun querencia implies a desired place. The terms refuge and sanctuary suggest semantically a retreat from rather than a retreat to. Yet we actively seek out open space, green space, space in nature as we are part of nature. In an urban context, spaces exist at the edges of the urban and in the interstices. We can find these spaces if we look for them.

However for women who have proportionally less income and still bear much of responsibility for child care and other caring responsibilities it is the latter which are more practical, more important to us. And arguably access to spaces of calm, of peace, of tranquility are a therapeutic and spiritual need, not only a pastime but a political act. The struggle to claim them, to use them, at a time when public space is shrinking, the struggle for access to urban space and the urban commons is becoming as relevant as the struggle for housing. The roots of this struggles are ancient, yet in a context of austerity, with hyper gentrification and state led privatization, the very epitome of neo-liberalism these are becoming the struggles of our time.

Saturday 16th June

Reading from 306: Living Under the Shadow of Regeneration and in conversation with Andy Bungay and Colin Crilly, NHS campaigner and Wandsworth Action Against Cuts, on Wandsworth Radio

Tuesday June 19th

May 2018

Screening of Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle

4th May

Residents of Cressingham Gardens Estate feature in this film and there will be readings by myself and the residents from the book 306: Living under the shadow of Regeneration at 7.30pm.

Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle explores the agenda behind the neglect, demolition and regeneration of council estates in the U.K. over the past thirty years.The film will be followed by a Q&A with Dispossession director Paul Sng, associate producer Liza McKenzie, barrister Jamie Burton, and myself.

Writing workshop part of SOLUS AND THE CITY

Facilitating a writing workshop as part of the innovative Solus and the City project. The workshop will exploring how different environments influence female / non binary identity, particularly notions of stability – self reliance – safety and solitude and how these are influenced by decreasing public space, precarious working and living conditions, the financialization of leisure and the urban environment.

Solus and the City is a project consisting of the construction of a small ‘Solitude Shed’ – a structure based on rural mountain bothies built on an urban site in London. Accompanying the structure will be a collection of material written from female perspectives exploring themes of solitude, sanctuary, stability and individuality.

Women are paradoxically expected to provide solidity, structure and sanctuary whilst they disproportionately experience unstable positions in housing, work and society. The shed, complete with writing and a depiction of the building process, will be ready for all to view throughout June as part of London Festival of Architecture 2018.

Taking part in X-rated. Performers will address themes relating to women at this time. It has been 100 years since the first women were given the right to vote. But after the #metoo revelations how far have we come? Around the world millions of women are still without a voice. Feminist voices are accused of censorship whilst bigots hide behind freedom of speech. It’s quite powerful to remember and reflect on what it actually means to be free to speak/vote.

A bit more bio

Born upside down, born blue, 51°57’0″N, 0°16’55″W, a little after the witching hour, six months before the Cuban missile crisis, guess life was bound to have it bumps. Diagnosed bipolar 34 years later. Somewhere in between I immersed myself in punk, science fiction and socialism.

I have been an antiwar activist since the Malvinas/Falklands war and was thrust into the world of housing activism following Lambeth Council’s unfortunate decision to demolish our homes on Cressingham Gardens.

Grew up in a council house in Stevenage, went to the University of East Anglia leaving with a Ba (Hons) in Development Studies and after some years working in Welfare Rights, graduated with an Ma in Film from The London College of Communication.

Recent endeavors include

A blog style account where I will document a solidarity visit with other trade unionists to Catalonia and reflect on what makes a nation and the nature of and the social forces in the independence movement entitled The Sickle and the Senyera to be launched June 2018 more info

Photomontage by Anne E Cooper

An exhibition at the Portico Gallery, a curated show as part of the Lambeth Open, including work from my Washing Day series October 2017 more info

Review

A small community has now triggered one of the biggest conversations on social housing since Grenfell bySophia Akram in The Canary

Readings

Contributors to 306 read alongside other special guests at the closing event for Sanctum Ephemeral, an exhibition by by Mark Aitken, part of The Brixton Design Trail, on Saturday the 23rd September 3.00pm more info